RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-07-02	5 Things You Should Know About The Devil
		1. The devil cannot force you to sin (Jm.4:7). Jas 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. No one has the right to say that Satan made me do it. Many give credit to the devil where credit is not due. He does not have the power to make you sin. Yes, he can dangle baits in front of you, and he can whisper temptations to your ears. But that is as far as he can go. As James tells us if we “resist the devil he will flee from you.” 2. The devil cannot be in two places at once Only God is omnipresent. It is only God who can be everywhere at the same time. Jer 23:24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?" says the LORD; "Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the LORD. Though the devil can only be at one place at a time, he has a scattered army across the face of this world. Anyone who is not born again (put their trust in Jesus) is under the influence of Satan. Be careful who you listen to on modern media and social outlets. If you are listening to unbelievers understand that Satan has a hand on what that person is doing. Obviously, some more than others. You may be listening to the ideas of the evil one. Jesus said the following to the unbelieving Pharisees of His day. Joh 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. If you have rejected the Lord Jesus Christ, your spiritual father is the devil. If you place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Father adopts the devil's children. 3. The devil cannot read minds (1Ki.8:39) 1Ki 8:39 then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men) Satan the deceiver would try to get you to think that he has greater powers than he actually does. He wants you to think he has powers that rival God. It is only God who can see our thought life and knows the depths of our hearts. It seems that many Christians have an unhealthy view of the devil. Some preach about demons everywhere, so believers are convinced to be afraid of the devil. They wonder if everyone they see walking down the street is demon filled. Then there are those who never think about the devil. He is seeking to destroy souls. 1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Then there are those who are haughty toward the devil. This also is unhealthy. Even Michael the archangel refused to rebuke the devil, but said, “the Lord rebuke you” (Jd.1:9). 4. The devil cannot do anything without God's permission first God is sovereign over all things. That is, He is in control over everything. That certainly includes the devil. Luk 22:31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." Satan always has to ask God before he does anything. We may not understand all that God is doing, but we must keep in mind that God knows what He is doing. And He is working all things together for our good (Ro.8:28). 5. The devil cannot win (Ro.16:20) Rom 16:20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Satan is a defeated enemy. He was defeated when he was cast out of heaven along with the fallen demons who followed him. Jesus Christ defeated Satan when He rose from the dead. Death and sin were conquered. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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